-
Asked by Vicki to Andrew, Francesca, Laura, Matthew, Rebecca on 10 Nov 2014. This question was also asked by cyanogen_.
-
Andrew McKinley answered on 10 Nov 2014:
A little bit, yes. But only because it is so daunting just how *big* the area seems! You realise rapidly though that you cannot be an expert in everything, so you naturally focus on what you find interesting.
To be honest, I had absolutely no idea what my career would be when I left school. I was still none the wiser when I finished my undergraduate degree, nor my PhD. I was probably 28 years old when I made a definite *decision* about what I wanted my career to be, rather than simply following what I enjoyed doing. Again, you can’t do everything, so you focus on what interests you – but you need to do a lot of ‘stuff’ to find that particular area that really interests you!
Long story short: You don’t need to decide what your career is going to be right now, provided you enjoy what you do and it pays the bills!
-
-
Rebecca Ingle answered on 11 Nov 2014:
I didn’t really have a well-defined project to work on when I started my PhD so until I started, I didn’t have that much idea of exactly what molecules and systems I’d be working on. I also had no experience of the particular experiments I do now, although I had worked with laser systems before.
I completely agree with Andrew, it is daunting how big science seems and how many questions there are to answer but also, given how much science is done worldwide, how you as a young researcher can actually make a novel and meaningful contribution to all the work that is out there.
It’s incredible how much you can learn in a short space of time when you’re doing a PhD. I really notice it when I’m listening to other researchers’ give talks and I can just understand much more of their work, even when it isn’t directly in my field. I can even make valuable contributions to solving my colleagues’ problems now too!
You end up finding loads to do (more than you could ever manage) and whilst I don’t think some of the worries ever go away, you definitely get a lot more confident as you go on.
-
Matthew Camilleri answered on 11 Nov 2014:
When I first started doing my Masters I was all too happy about having moved out of my parents house that I did not care about what science I was going to do.
As soon as I had to start looking for something else after my Masters then I was a little bit worried that I was not going to find something I loved, but opportunities were there aplenty, and I quickly removed any nerves I had.
At the end science is a way of thinking, and although it took me a while to realise that, I have developed a way of thinking that is different then the normal Joe, and that relaxes me, as I know that science will always be part of my life.
-
Laura Schofield answered on 11 Nov 2014:
To be honest, no. I knew I wanted to be in a science (ideally chemistry) related job so I did a chemistry degree. Then I picked my Master’s supervisor because I knew he did “green” chemistry (making chemistry more environmentally friendly) and that was the area I’d set my heart on. Part way through my Master’s project, my supervisor offered me a PhD to work with him and told me what it would be on. Things kind of fell into place in front of me which was awesome! It is only now that I’m coming to the end of my PhD that I’m starting to worry about what job I will get!!
-
Francesca Palombo answered on 11 Nov 2014:
Not at that time. I have had supervisors looking after me and my projects so that I could focus on experiments, data analysis and results only. Now I am worried since my projects and those of my students depend on me!
Comments
Vicki commented on :
What does PhD mean?
Laura commented on :
It’s a Doctorate of Philosophy (even though we don’t do philosophy!!) Philosophy in Greek means “love of wisdom” so my supervisor told me I would be a Doctor or wisdom when I finish which is pretty cool! Medical doctors do an MD (Medicinal doctorate) and everyone else does PhDs.